Crisis Management

Crisis Management is a central component of comprehensive School Safety. The most important consideration in both Crisis Management and Safe Schools efforts is the health, safety, and welfare of the students and staff.

Wayne RESA is committed to supporting all constituent districts with the development, implementation, and execution of a comprehensive Safe Schools Plan emphasizing preventive strategies ranging from building design to discipline policies and programs which improve school climate.

The purpose of this site is to provide up-to-date resources for district superintendents, school administrators, teachers, and staff members to access when dealing with crises impacting the school community.

Key Terms

Crisis Management is that part of a school division’s approach to school safety which focuses more narrowly on a time-limited, problem-focused intervention to identify, confront and resolve the crisis, restore equilibrium, and support appropriate adaptive responses.
Crises shall include but not be limited to situations involving the death of a student, staff member, or a member of a student’s immediate family by suicide, substance abuse, illness, or accident.
Critical incidents shall include situations involving threats of harm to students, personnel, or facilities. Critical incidents include but are not limited to natural disasters, fire, use of weapons/explosives, and the taking of hostages. Such incidents require an interagency response involving law enforcement and/or emergency services agencies.

(Source: Virginia Department of Education)

Wayne RESA's Mental Health/Wellness/Crisis Resources for Wayne County(PDF, opens in new window)
Teaching Through Crises Guidance Document ADA - Wayne RESA(PDF, opens in new window)

Resources for Parents and Caregivers

Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event(opens in new window) — National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) Also available in Arabic, Dari, German, Japanese, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian
After a Crisis: Helping Young Children Heal(opens in new window) — National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) Also available in Arabic, Dari, German, Hebrew, Norwegian, Pashto, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian
Assisting Parents/Caregivers in Coping with Collective Traumas(PDF, opens in new window) — National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)
Helping School Age Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers(opens in new window) — National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) Also available in Arabic, Hebrew, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian
Helping Teens with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers(opens in new window) — National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) Also available in Arabic, Hebrew, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian
Helping Your Children Manage Distress in the Aftermath of a Shooting(opens in new window) — American Psychological Association (APA)
How to Talk to Kids about School Shootings(opens in new window) — Child Mind Institute
Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth After the Recent Shooting(opens in new window) — National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) Also available in Spanish
Recommended Books for Children Coping with Loss or Trauma(PDF, opens in new window) (PDF) — National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
Talking to Children about Violence: Tips for Families and Teachers(opens in new window) — National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Also available in Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, French, Korean, Kurdish, Portuguese, Somali, Spanish, Vietnamese
Resources on Violence(opens in new window) and Trauma(opens in new window) for Younger Children — Sesame Street in Communities

Resources for School Administrators and Educators

Toolkit 1 - School Crisis Communication Planning(PDF, opens in new window) — Michigan State Police (MSP) Office of School Safety
Toolkit 2 - Emergency Preparedness for School Events(PDF, opens in new window) — Michigan State Police (MSP) Office of School Safety
Toolkit 3 - Best Practices for Investigating Student Online Activity(PDF, opens in new window) — Michigan State Police (MSP) Office of School Safety
Best Practices for Trauma-Informed Instruction(PDF, opens in new window) — Hanover Research
Learning Loss Through Traumatic Events(PDF, opens in new window) — Hanover Research
Student Anxiety and Mental Health(PDF, opens in new window) — Hanover Research
Recovery from Large-Scale Crises: Guidelines for Crisis Teams and Administrators(opens in new window) — National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
NEA’s School Crisis Guide(opens in new window) — National Education Association (NEA)
School Preparedness(opens in new window) — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
School Violence Prevention: Guidelines for Administrators and Crisis Teams(opens in new window) — National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
Supporting Schools During and After Crisis: A Guide to Supporting States, Districts, Schools, Educators, and Students through a Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Framework(opens in new window) — Center of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
Teaching Through Crises Guidance Document ADA(PDF, opens in new window) — Wayne RESA

General Trauma and Mental Health Resources

Coping with a Disaster of Traumatic Event(opens in new window) — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Mental Health Resources for Schools, Parents, Children and Families(opens in new window) — Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN)
Quick Guide to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)(opens in new window) — Child Mind Institute
Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Schools: An Action Guide for School and District Leaders(opens in new window) — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Recommended Books for Children Coping with Loss or Trauma(opens in new window) — National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
National Child Traumatic Stress Network Resources(opens in new window)
School Mental Health Resources(opens in new window) — Michigan Department of Education (MDE)

Resources for Talking to Your Students

Addressing Grief: Tips for Teachers and Administrators(opens in new window) — National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event: What Teachers Can Do to Help Students(opens in new window) — Child Mind Institute Also available in Spanish
Helping Students After a School Shooting(opens in new window) — American School Counselor Association (ASCA)
Helping Youth After Community Trauma: Tips for Educators(opens in new window) — National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) Also available in Hebrew, Mandarin, Spanish
Mental Health Technology Transfer Center(opens in new window) (MHTTC)
Back to School(opens in new window) — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Talking to Children about Violence: Tips for Families and Teachers(opens in new window) — National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Also available in Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, French, Korean, Kurdish, Portuguese, Somali, Spanish, Vietnamese
The Teacher's Role When Tragedy Strikes(opens in new window) — Child Mind Institute
Resources on Violence(opens in new window) and Trauma(opens in new window) for Younger Children — Sesame Street in Communities

Systems-Level Prevention

Michigan has many agency programs and contacts that can help your school build a school safety plan. Check out schoolsafety.gov as you develop your plan.

School Threats / School Safety Videos

Crisis Text Line

Text from anywhere in the United States, anytime. Crisis Text Line is here for any crisis. A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds, all from our secure online platform. The volunteer Crisis Counselor will help you move from a hot moment to a cool moment.

Text HOME to 741741

Crisis Text Line(opens in new window)

SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline

SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.

Call or text 1-800-985-5990 (para Español, oprima "2")

SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline(opens in new window)

Call 988

The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline(opens in new window)

Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN)

The Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network (DWIHN) is Here to Talk. Here to Help. Our trained clinicians are standing by 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help you.

Call 1-800-241-4949

Resources from the Office of the Wayne County Prosecutor

View our Office of the Wayne County Prosecutor Resources page

This page contains contact information for the Office of the Wayne County Prosecutor's office and Consequences of School Threats public statement examples.

Video: Death and School Crisis from CHLA

OK2SAY Confidential Tip Line

OK2SAY is the student safety program that allows students to confidentially report tips on potential harm or criminal activities directed at students, school employees, and schools.